Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is the second former prime minister after Datuk Seri Najib Razak was charged in court.
Focus on your court cases, Anwar advises Muhyiddin
Muhyiddin, who is Bersatu president and Perikatan Nasional chairman, was charged at the Sessions Court yesterday with four counts of power abuse involving a total of Rm232.5mil in gratification and two counts of money laundering involving Rm195mil.
Muhyiddin, who is Bersatu president and Perikatan Nasional chairman, was charged at the Sessions Court yesterday with four counts of power abuse involving a total of Rm232.5mil in gratification and two counts of money laundering involving Rm195mil.
Najib was sentenced by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on July 28, 2020 to 12 years’ jail and a Rm210mil fine after he was found guilty of seven charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of position in the Rm42mil SRC International case in connection with the sovereign fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
RM300mil kickback claims that led to charges being filed
PETALING JAYA: The charging of Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in court is linked to allegations that contractors had deposited RM300mil into the party’s accounts in return for projects. The projects were part of the Jana Wibawa programme, which was set in November 2020 by Muhyiddin when he was the prime minister, to empower bumiputra contractors struggling during the Covid-19 pandemic. Under the scheme, bumiputra contractors rated three to five stars were given contracts through direct negotiation. They had to be approved by the Finance Ministry and Muhyiddin has pointed the finger at his finance minister then, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, as the one who had approved the companies getting the projects. Muhyiddin has also called the allegations “political slander” to smear his reputation as the eighth prime minister. In February, the MACC froze Bersatu’s accounts and has since charged several individuals in court. They included former Bersatu information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan and Segambut Bersatu division deputy chief Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad. They were alleged to have collected funds from the award of the projects. On March 2, Bersatu treasurer Datuk Mohd Salleh Bajuri was remanded by the graft busters to assist investigations into the party’s expenditure.Mohd Salleh was instructed to go to the MACC headquarters on March 1 to give a statement on payments by Bersatu to suppliers and vendors.
Good governance entails an inclusive approach
INTRODUCED in November 2020 during the administration of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the Jana Wibawa programme was meant wholly for bumiputra contractors to help them cope with the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Malaysian Anti-corruption Commission’s (MACC) probe into Jana Wibawa has revealed the shenanigans of the persons allegedly involved. According to Law and Institutional Reform Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, there were 56 projects valued at Rm6.3bil under the programme. But that’s another matter. It must not be overlooked that non-malay contractors were also affected by the Covid-19 maelstrom. Some were on the verge of bankruptcy too. It is therefore regretted that the government of the day chose to implement a politically popular policy instead of one that promoted inclusivity and would have enhanced racial unity. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in enunciating the principles of Malaysia Madani, emphasised that the direction of the country must be guided by significant priorities that require an approach cutting across political, social, economic, environmental and technological aspects. Good governance entails a more inclusive culture in promoting unity in diversity. It is hoped that the future will not look anything like the past.- DR A. SOORIAN Seremban
